IN THE early 70s I
joined local government and one of the first inspections we did as a council was
to find a site for the new bridge.
At that stage the bridge was to be built
in the next few years.
All councillors agreed the preferred site was in
Federal Square where the petrol companies had their depots.
During the 15
years that I was in council, nothing changed.
New councillors came and went
but not one of them had any thoughts of changing the site.
It was the logical
place for the bridge to be put.
It would not interfere with the progress of
this beautiful city where the new bridge was to be located.
The 9a solution
would certainly affect the progress of the city.
Just think for a moment and
consider what it will destroy: the beautiful water tower, which was built in the
very early years and the swimming pool, which is a great place for the locals
and particularly the tourists that use our beautiful caravan park.
When
people in caravans come past the swimming pool, it is only minutes before the
children from the caravan park are in the pool.
The children are happy so the
parents decide to stay for a few more days.
That’s what makes Swan Hill a
tourist destination.
The whole area along the river is a beautiful
place.
Why spoil it by building a bridge near it?
There was talk about the
Wamba Wamba people not wanting the bridge to go over their land.
Then why was
the magnificent golf course built on their land.
When they were excavating to
build the golf course they dug up Aboriginal remains.
That didn’t stop them
building the course.
Where Pickerings Transport is situated is Wamba Wamba
land.
In Murray Downs, where the beautiful homestead is located is another
place where the Wamba Wamba tribe lived.
The annex on top of the homestead
was to look out for Aboriginal marauders.
We used to play football on the
Murray Downs oval.
They had buckjumping shows there.
It was used for many
occasions.
I still get the Swan Hill newspaper sent by my old mate Licky
Worner.
I see that there is controversy about a [Big W] being built on the
old North Park site away from the main shopping centre.
It could be built on
the site where the old police station was.
There is no doubt that as the city
grows, the shopping centre will have to be extended.
The logical place is
into Curlewis Street.
If the bridge goes where the council of the day has
decided (9a), what a congestion that will make.
We have to think of the
future of our beautiful city.
Put the bridge back to its nominated place in
the first place, the Federal Square site.
I was recently in Swan Hill and I
didn’t find anybody that wanted the bridge to go where the council decided to
put it.
Have a vote for the ratepayers to decide where the bridge will be
put.
Correction, I found one person, a former councillor, who thought the 9a
site was the best site.
